Victoria's sharp voice cut through the grand hall like a razor blade as she pointed a manicured finger at Lily. She tried to maintain her calm, sophisticated posture, but the rapid rising and falling of her chest betrayed her intense panic. She knew that if Arthur believed this homeless teenager, her entire life of luxury, high status, and financial security would collapse instantly. She immediately switched her strategy from shock to aggressive defense, attempting to discredit Lily before Arthur could dig any deeper into the truth.
Victoria: Arthur, you cannot possibly take the word of a homeless beggar over your own wife!
Arthur: She brought my son back to me, Victoria! Where were you for the past three hours?
Victoria: I was at the city shopping mall trying to clear my head! I was grieving for our missing child!
Arthur: Grieving? In your red fur coat? Driving the silver car that you claimed was parked in the garage all morning?
Victoria: I took the car because I needed fresh air! This girl is lying! She probably stole the baby herself and brought him here to demand a ransom payment!
Lily: I don't want your money! I was searching for warm clothes in the bin when I saw you throw that box!
Victoria: Shut your mouth, you little trash! You have no right to speak to me in my own house!
Arthur: Do not raise your voice at her in my presence, Victoria! Eleanor, take Lily upstairs to the guest suite and lock the door from the inside for her safety.
Eleanor: Right away, Mr. Drummond. Come along, dear child. You don't have to listen to this madness.
Eleanor gently wrapped her arm around Lily's shoulders and led her quickly toward the grand mahogany staircase. Lily looked back over her shoulder with wide, anxious eyes, watching Arthur stand like an unmovable wall between her and the enraged woman. Once Lily and Eleanor disappeared down the upper hallway, Arthur turned to face his wife with cold, calculating eyes. He walked over to his mahogany desk, picked up his smartphone, and dialed a number on speakerphone so Victoria could hear every single word clearly.
Arthur: Marcus, I need you at the mansion immediately. Bring our lead security investigator and the master key to the garage security room.
Marcus: I'm already on the estate grounds, Mr. Drummond. I will be inside in two minutes.
Victoria: Arthur, please! Why are you doing this? I am your wife! We swore to love each other through everything!
Arthur: You signed a prenuptial agreement before we married, Victoria. An agreement that clearly states any act of fraud or criminal endangerment against my family forfeits every dollar of your allowance and settlement rights.
Victoria: You think I care about the money? I cared about our marriage! But you brought that surrogate baby into this house to replace me!
Arthur: He is my blood! He is an innocent child! You tried to murder a newborn baby just to protect your share of the inheritance!
Victoria's face twisted into an ugly mask of rage, dropping her sweet facade completely. She stepped closer to Arthur, her voice dropping to a harsh, bitter whisper that echoed off the high marble walls. She realized that denial was no longer working, and the reality of her legal jeopardy was closing in fast. Her desperation turned into open malice as she realized her life of comfort was slipping away.
Victoria: That child would have taken half of everything my family built! Your father promised me that the Drummond estate would stay under my control if you died first!
Arthur: My father never promised you anything of the sort. You altered his trust fund paperwork before he passed, didn't you?
Victoria: You can't prove a single thing! A street girl's word means nothing in a court of law against my family's legal team!
Arthur: She won't be the only witness, Victoria. The security cameras at the back gate run twenty-four hours a day on an off-site backup server you know nothing about.
Victoria froze, her face draining of all color once again. Before she could utter another word, the heavy front doors swung open once more. Marcus, the chief of security, walked into the hall accompanied by two uniformed police officers whom Arthur had called while Eleanor was getting the warm clothes. The legal trap was snapping shut, and Victoria was caught right in the middle of it with nowhere left to run.